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Texas Monthly senior editor Aaron Parsley wrote a heartbreaking story about his family’s experiences in the July 4th flooding of the Guadalupe River.

His candid conversation with our David Brown included more than we were able to showcase on our broadcast — so we bring more of it to you here. A note that this might be a tough listen.

The full transcript of this episode of Texas Standard is available on the KUT & KUTX Studio website. The transcript is also available as subtitles or captions on some podcast apps.

The post Texas Extra: More from Texas Monthly’s Aaron Parsley on writing about Hill Country flooding appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Big and getting bigger — that’s been the story of Texas’ population growth, but recent census numbers suggest a new chapter being written. State Demographer Lloyd Potter helps us do the math.
Cancelled elections in some parts of Texas, though not for nefarious reasons. We’ll hear the why and how.
Full speed ahead on data centers? Not so fast. We’ll hear about a Texas county hitting the pause button on development.
Also, in the 40 years since “La Bamba” made him a household name, Lou Diamond Phillips reconnects with his Texas roots.

The post Lou Diamond Phillips talks Texas roots, ‘La Bamba’ and legacy appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Kim Masters wraps up her two-part conversation with legendary actor William Shatner and famed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. Shatner reflects on his deeply emotional journey to space at age 90 and Tyson shares why he isn’t picky about the show biz gigs he takes. The pair also reflect on technological disruption, including how the rise of AI inspired Shatner to record a heavy metal album about the Industrial Revolution. Their two-night live event, The Universe is Absurd, will be at The Saban Theatre May 19-20. 

Plus, Masters and Matt Belloni break down the strength of the new AI protections outlined in the recently finalized four-year agreement between SAG-AFTRA and the studios. They also discuss Disney’s awkward upfronts pitch, and Netflix’s continued expansion into live sports and events.

It’s the final stretch before the primary runoffs in Texas, but the real test may not be the race most folks are focused on.
Next week, early voting begins in the primary runoff contest between incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and challenger Ken Paxton — but win or lose, who’ll take over Paxton’s current seat as attorney general? We’ll take a closer look.
Also, a top Texas-based expert in geopolitics weighs in on the summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping and what it might mean for the future of the U.S. conflict with Iran.
Harvest time in Texas? How warmer winters have triggered a seasonal shift for the Texas crawfish industry.

The post Who will replace Paxton as Texas attorney general? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Former President Barack Obama made a surprise stop in Texas. We’ll dig more into what his appearance might mean for Democrats heading into the midterms.
The number of students in Texas public schools dropped by tens of thousands at the beginning of this school year. We’ll look into why.
Plus, another Texas-based company is also now making Texas its legal home. What we can make of this growing trend.
Texas Monthly Senior Editor Aaron Parsley’s young nephew was killed in the devastating July 4th flooding. His essay about his family’s experiences just won a Pulitzer Prize. We’ll speak with him.
And getting ready for the World Cup in Houston means taking really good care of some grass.

The post Pulitzer-winning writer reflects on loss and survival in the Central Texas floods appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

A bipartisan bill aims to fix the country’s broken immigration system. Does it stand a chance in Congress?
We’ll look at how adult education can help increase income for families coping with rising costs.
Plus, free burgers for college students at UT Austin — how “churgers” are providing relief amid rising grocery prices.
And the NBA playoffs now shift to San Antonio. Spurs star Victor Wembanyama returns to the floor after his controversial Game 4 ejection.

The post How ‘churgers’ are providing relief to college students in Austin appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

The state’s biggest school district, already under state control, now faces a civil rights investigation by the federal government. The probe into Houston Independent School District focuses on plans to change how special education services are delivered — what some believe may amount to illegal segregation.
A massive liquefied natural gas export terminal is rising near the Laguna Madre, bringing promises of economic growth to the Rio Grande Valley — but not everyone is on board.
Democrat James Talarico is making big gains in the U.S. Senate race, railing against billionaires. But a new investigation finds some billionaires backing his campaign. We’ll have a closer look.
Also, remembering the leader of a distinctly hot dance orchestra back in the 1950’s. These days, he’s often called the father of Tejano music.

The post South Texas LNG boom promises jobs — but at what cost? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

After three deaths on a cruise ship, fears over hantavirus are going viral online. A top Texas epidemiologist shares what science says.
The race for a U.S. Senate seat from Texas is getting a lot of attention as current Attorney General Ken Paxton tries to take the seat of a fellow Republican. But what about the seat he’s vacating? How much do you know about who’s in the running?
Wind power: One of the biggest stories of Texas energy in recent years. But now, wind is set to take second place to something else.
Plus, the week in politics with the Texas Tribune and poetry from the Typewriter Rodeo.

The post What to know about hantavirus appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

This week, Kim Masters speaks with legendary actor William Shatner and famed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson about their upcoming two-night live event, The Universe is Absurd. In the first installment of a sprawling two-part conversation, the pair reflect on how syndication helped solidify Star Trek as a cultural phenomenon, why studio executives don’t know what they’re doing, and they wrestle over the universe’s biggest questions.

Plus, Masters and Matt Belloni break down the seismic shift at Netflix following the company’s decision to give Greta Gerwig’s Narnia film a 49-day theatrical window ahead of its streaming debut. They also discuss the ups and downs from Disney’s latest quarterly earnings report and the newly finalized four-year agreement between SAG-AFTRA and the studios.

Texas lawmakers have long known about flood dangers along the Guadalupe. So why were calls for life-saving protections not heeded?
Amid lawsuits, two top state leaders say they want to make it easier for summer camps along the Guadalupe to reopen this summer, less than a year after the deadly July 4 floods.
Plans to open a data center at U.S. military base Fort Bliss is getting serious pushback from nearby El Paso residents.
Also, what’s behind a huge increase in drug overdose deaths at Texas prisons?
Plus, why officials are raising red flags over a rise in cases of what’s called Valley Fever.

Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can help make this podcast happen by donating at supportthispodcast.org.

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